Rossland’s mountain bike world champion Cindy Devine finally got her call in “The Hall”.
Devine was inducted into the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame on October 30, attending the ceremony in Chateau Bromont, Que. to celebrate a long overdue honor.
The gold medalist of the inaugural Mountain Bike World Championship has lived in Rossland since 1990, the same year she won the event. A well-known physiotherapist, coach and advocate for fitness and mental health, Devine has been a vital part of the community wheel for the past 30 years.
So when asked what it was like to be inducted into the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame, she replied, “I feel like I have emerged from relative anonymity in my little alpine home. and shine in the spotlight again.
“As an inductee into the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame, it is an added honor to be recognized by my own country, for the youngest sport of mountain biking, along with all the other cycling disciplines that are part of Cycling Canada. “
Born in Venezuela, a young Devine moved to Vancouver’s North Shore where she began her initiation by pedaling the trails and hinterlands of the forest community.
Devine rose to prominence in mountain biking in the late 1980s and won gold at the first official UCI Mountain Bike World Championship in Purgatory, Colo., In 1990.
The small team of Canadian mountain bikers made a significant impact in the early days of riding, helping to pave the way for future cyclists.
“With Elladee Brown and I winning the first UCI World Down Hill silver and gold medal in 1990, our contribution opened the eyes of the world to the depth of talent in Canada’s small population and, possibly, motivated them. future Canadian men’s and women’s world medalists and their supporting sponsors after us, ”said Devine.
She followed this with bronze medals at the 1991 and 1992 world championships and the British national downhill cycling finals in 1991.
Five-time Canadian national downhill champion from 1991 to 1994, she also won the US national downhill mountain bike champion in 1990, 1992 and 1993.
She retired from the mountain biking circuit in 1994.
In 2000, she was honored by the United Cycling Institute with her induction into the Cycling Legends of the Rainbow Club of Canada and the same year was inducted into the World Mountain Bike Hall in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Devine’s unwavering commitment to the sport inspired a generation of Canadian mountain bikers who followed, including Alison Sydor, Lesley Tomlinson, Andrew Shandro and Roland Green.
Her Canadian teammate Elladee Brown paid tribute to Devine when she was inducted into the International Mountain Biking Hall of Fame in Fairfax, Calif., In 2003.
“Ask anyone in this country about Cindy Devine – everyone, and I mean everyone, will agree that she was the first mountain biker in this country to take the sport to another level.
“Her notoriety as a runner and ambassador has influenced so many to experience the sport in this country… she is an integral part of the history of mountain biking in Canada.
For Devine, as with her many trips by bike around the world, it has been a good race and says that she would like to leave a lasting legacy that is twofold.
“First, as an avid cyclist, Canadians still know today that cycling, at all levels, can be a lifelong provider of mental and physical health,” she added.
“And secondly, I hope that through my exposure as a pioneer runner, I will inspire young women and men to pursue their sporting dreams with determination.”
Robbi Weldon and Pierre Gachon were also inducted as athletes, while Patrice Drouin and Chantal Lachance entered as builders.
sports@trailtimes.ca
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